Friday, November 23, 2012
Escalating costs put the village's budget in "a precarious position," according to Village Manager.
Originally estimated at around $700,000, the financial damage caused by Super Storm Sandy has doubled, Village Manager Ken Gabbert said at a special public meeting on Friday. According to a report in The Ridgewood News, the manager said the new damage estimate is up to $1.2 million. An emergency appropriation to cover the costs is expected with Ridgewood's budget currently "in a precarious position," the paper reported. Gabbert, on vacation this week, did not respond to requests for comment posed by Patch. Mayor Paul Aronsohn said all power-related damage is expected to be covered in full by FEMA, with other 75 percent of other costs potentially paid for by the federal government. He said Gabbert estimated a potential bill of "several …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
State BPU chief warns NJ ratepayers would foot bill for ‘incredibly expensive’ measures
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Hurricane Sandy has prompted utility regulators to take a new look at measures New Jersey has shied away from in the past – including replacing some above-ground power lines with underground systems -- largely because of the huge price tag that likely would jack up electric rates for consumers. In the next few months, the state Board of Public Utilities, however, plans to explore the possibility of “selective’’ burying of underground lines. It also will examine whether to require utilities to create a “smarter” power grid, a step some say would lead to faster restoration of power in the wake of powerful storms like Sandy. Neither of those options would be cheap. In the past, for instance, the BPU has balked at allowing Public Service …
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Former Glen Rock High School teacher Benjamin W. Harris was killed when he fell down the stairs of his power-less apartment; his death marks the second known storm fatality with strong connections to Glen Rock.
A retired Glen Rock teacher living alone in Hawthorne died as a result of Superstorm Sandy, according to a report in the Hawthorne Gazette. Hawthorne police believe Benjamin W. Harris, 83, died after falling down the stairs of the power-less Rock Road Garden apartments on Nov. 2, the newspaper reported. His body was discovered two days later by a neighbor. Harris taught Spanish and drama for 41 years at Glen Rock High School before retiring in 1994, according to his obituary. Glen Rock School Board President Rona McNabola told Patch he remained active in the Panther community well after retirement, teaching several courses at the Community School. Harris is the second person residing in Hawthorne to have died as a result of Hurricane Sandy…
One in five residents said they felt forced out of their homes by the storm.
Superstorm Sandy made an impact on approximately two-thirds of the state, according to results from a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Tuesday. An even higher percentage (94 percent) of the 1,228 polled New Jersey residents reported that they lost power at some point during or after the storm. About 65 percent of those polled said they remained without power for at least five days. "Two-thirds of New Jersey residents were affected when Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc on the Garden State three weeks ago," a press release about the poll said. Approximately one in five residents said they were forced out of their homes by the storm, with about 6 percent of residents telling pollsters they were still not able to permanently return. "We already …
Monday, November 19, 2012
To make up days lost to Hurricane Sandy, the school board could chop away at April break or consider a series of alternatives, though no final decision has yet been made.
As it stands, Glen Rock students can expect to see at least three days of their April break shortened resulting from Sandy-related school closings. But that's not written in stone. At Monday night's regular school board meeting, Interim Superintendent Ray Albano said the district must recoup three full instructional days to fulfill the state's required 180 instructional day minimum. Schools were closed for eight days due to widespread power outages and safety hazards in the form of downed power lines and trees. Three snow days were built into the calendar and the district made up two additional days by holding school during what had initially been a teacher convention break. Although the current calendar designates April break to be …
Saturday, November 17, 2012
The 'Unite 2 Revive' fundraiser will feature seven NJ bands at Jersey's Sports Bar in Neptune on Sunday, Nov. 18
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Saturday, November 17, 2012
A day-long event featuring food, drink and popular New Jersey rock bands on Sunday will raise funds for Red Cross efforts to meet the needs of those victimized by Hurricane Sandy. The "Unite 2 Revive" will be held at Jersey’s Sports Bar, located at 116 Third Ave. in Neptune, from noon to 7 p.m. The fundraising event is being presented by Stars that Shine Entertainment, LLC, TOURPAX, and Synergy Event Planners. The restaurant will be serving food and drink specials during the event and sponsors include Patch sites throughout New Jersey. Guests are welcome to attend throughout the day to enjoy music from local bands including: The Eddie Testa Band, Guy Smiley, Rome, Undercover, Kindred, Marc Ribler & friends and Nobs Overdrive. Special …
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116 3rd Ave, Neptune City, NJ
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Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Legal advice, where to find shelter and food among resources covered.
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Wednesday, November 14, 2012
A new resource has been released by NJ 2-1-1 Partnership documenting recovery resources for victims of Superstorm Sandy. The Hurricane Sandy Response and Recovery Guide details information such as contacts for home contractors, legal services for filing storm damage claims, how to apply for funding for damaged hot water heaters and how to remove mold. It also provides information county-by-county on food assistance, shelter and mental health facilities. According to a press release sent by NJ 2-1-1 Partnership, the organization has responded to approximately 43,000 callers asking for advice for many things included in the guide. NJ 2-1-1 Partnership has seen a 400 percent increase in call volume from Sandy alone. Public health officials …
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Great? Good considering the circumstances? Woeful?
Residents in Ridgewood on Wednesday didn't quite feel the same as PSE&G did about their slogan, "We make things work for you." At a packed council meeting, there were calls to shake up the utility's management, to flood the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) with complaints, along with a crescendo of residents claiming the utility was utterly "incompetent." Many had gone more than ten days without power. Local officials and residents said there were a slew of problems with the state-regulated utility, none greater than in communicating accurately, timely information to residents and officials. In contrast, PSE&G says Hurricane Sandy was an absolutely unprecededented disaster, among the worst in the history of New Jersey. More than 1.7 …
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Kim Vaccarella is asking residents to collect items to be bundled with a sturdy Jersey Shore inspired bag bound for Ortley Beach.
Ridgewood entrepreneur Kim Vaccarella is using her Jersey Shore-inspired creation to help Sandy victims recover as many items as possible in the short time they have to pour through their devastated homes. "The idea for bogg bag originated on a family vacation in Ortley Beach, where my family has a beach house," Vaccarella told Patch. "Since bogg bag was born out of a love for the Jersey Shore we felt a responsibility to help those that have lost so much. We are donating over 800 bogg bags to be distributed in and around the Ortley Beach area." The Ridgewood resident is asking that people donate items to fill the bags, which will then be distributed to homeowners once they're able to access their homes. "The bogg bag itself is a sturdy, …
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Drop off essential items bound for the Jersey Shore at Ken Smith Motors on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ridgewood High School students and two local business owners are joining forces to provide critical items for people who lost everything in the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. On Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kelly Masterson of Masterson Pools and Mike Tarleton of TLC Landscaping will have several trucks ready to go at Ken Smith Motors on Franklin Avenue. They, along with several Ridgewood High School students, will be collecting as many items as residents can throw at them. The goods will be heading to the Monmouth/Ocean County Food Bank this weekend to benefit victims. Organizers are pleading with village residents to bring the basics: ready to eat food (chili, soup, etc.), diapers, toiletries, and cleaning supplies such as heavy duty …
J.D. Luke
9:14 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Ah, excellent. So all I have to do is make a couple of dozen trips with my Volvo's trunk full of the branches that fell from my neighbor's yard onto mine. I assume the recycling center has vacuum cleaners available? OK, I exaggerate. I can probably make it in a dozen trips by using the station wagon instead. But seriously, those of us who don't have landscapers or pickup trucks are in a rather … more ›